Counting Blessings – #003: What’s New With You? (Did you know God moves in different ways?)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. – Isaiah 55:8

If you want to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord, it's not enough to just pray for it, you have to act on it. You have to be intentional.

Pero ayun nga, it's really challenging for me. I remember attending a conference back in 2024, and one of the speakers said that it's easy to build a new habit, but it's hard to break an old one. I don't remember her exact words, but that was the point.

And it's absolutely true.

I have some bad habits and routines that I really need to break—there has to be a change. Kailangan. Dapat mabago. Grabe pala talaga kapag nasa pruning season ka. And if I could describe it now—it's painful. True talaga!

But on the other hand, I can see how God is working through it — and that's something I'm truly grateful for. :)

At ito na nga ang kwento...

I challenged myself because I noticed I was spending too much time scrolling on my phone. I started wondering why I often felt easily irritated by small things, so I took some time to reflect on it.

One day, I decided to take a break from social media and replace that time with reading a book instead. I even set a specific time for it.

I prayed and asked God to help me through this. I wanted to see if something in me would change. I tried it for one week.

And going back to building a new habit, let me share with you one of the things I've been doing, by God's grace, this 2025.

I'm currently reading the third book of the year: Work in Progress by Ms. Mariann Lopera.

Just a quick share: Honestly, I'm not really a book reader. I've tried reading some books before, but I never finished them and I'd stop after around five pages. I even had to read one back in college, but that was only because it was required. 😅

There was also a time when I challenged myself to read a book just so I could say, "Nakapagbasa ako," or "May nabasa ako," basically, just to claim that I was a book reader. But the truth is, I found it hard to stay focused. I got distracted easily. I preferred reading summaries rather than going through all the details.

Yep, that was me, back in high school and college. And maybe some of you can relate too, so hey, hindi ka nag-iisa. :)

Pero hindi ibig sabihin na hindi na ako nadidistract ngayon. May mga times pa rin 😅 but this time, I prayed to the Lord to help me build a new habit. I didn't really know where to begin, what steps to take, or what I could do. I wanted to explore things I wished I had started earlier. And yes, there's a little bit of regret there.

So now, I'm starting small. I've been trying things like listening to podcasts that help me grow mentally and spiritually. And of course, getting back into reading. :)

I also started looking for books to read, and by God's grace, He led me to ones that speak directly to my life as a Christian. I'm so thankful because I've already finished two books, and I'm now reading the third one.

I don't know how to fully explain it, but reading stories about others' personal journeys with the Lord has been so helpful for me. Many of them testify to God's goodness in their lives, and somehow, I find myself relating deeply to their experiences.

And when I said, "If you want to grow deeper with the Lord, you don't just pray for it, you act on it," what I meant is this: we have a part to play. There are things within our control. For example, if I want to build a new habit, I can start small — like reading a book.

For me, it takes time to figure out the steps I need to take, but what I've learned is that growth requires a decision. A decision to take one step closer to God. A decision to let Him guide you, and to discipline yourself along the way.

And honestly, it's easier said than done. But what matters is that we keep moving forward, not backward. I heard this saying recently, and it stuck with me. It's so true, and it applies to our Christian journey too.

If you're like me, looking for new ways to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord, you can start with what's already in your hands.

What can you do, not just for your own benefit, but also for the glory of the Lord?

Build a new habit with the Lord, and let His Spirit guide you. :)

I'm praising God for how He is working in me. I may not have everything together, or always handle my emotions well — but I'm learning to rely more on God's power, not my own. I'm not there yet, but I'm truly grateful for how He's working in my life. It's all by His grace. #selfCheck

God is truly moving, even in the little things. We just need to surrender those things to Him and offer them back to Him.

What matters, too, is that we keep showing up to Him.

#keepshowingup

And if you're curious about the two books I've read, I'd be happy to recommend them to you, too!

📖 First book (TW): When A Good God Allows Rape by Joy Tan-Chi Mendoza

📖 Second book: Baggage Analysis by Stephen Prado

and,

📖 Third book (currently reading): Work In Progress by Mariann Lopera

But above all, the most important book we can ever read is His Word—the Bible.

And this is me, meeting one of the Lord's faithful servants, Ms. Mariann Lopera. 🙏✨

peace. love. joy.